War has played a key role in the history of the United States, from the nation's founding

right down to the present. War made the U.S. independent, kept it together, increased its size,

and established it as a global superpower. Understanding America's wars is essential for understanding American history.

Welcome to Key Battles of American History,

a podcast in which we discuss American history

through the lens of the most important battles of America's wars.

Here is your host, James Early.

Music host, James Early. Welcome to a special bonus episode of Key Battles of American History.

This is your host, James Early, as always.

And I am thrilled to present this special episode.

I have a very special guest.

A man that I respect a lot and a man whose work is just incredible, and I'm so honored that he's agreed to be with us.

Our guest today is Jared Frederick.

Jared is an instructor of history at Penn State University at Altoona, who specializes

in American history and public history.

Receiving his MA from West Virginia University in 2012, Jared has also served as a park ranger

at Gettysburg National Military Park, My Dream Job, and publisher of historical books for young adults.

Highly involved with regional museums, cultural attractions, and institutions, he is a strong

proponent of grassroots history. With this conviction in mind, he helped establish Penn State

Altuna's Public History Initiative in 2013 to build a collaborative spirit among local historical sites and to offer students career building opportunities at such venues.

Beyond Central Pennsylvania, he has completed projects in conjunction with the Smithsonian Institution, NASA, and the Pennsylvania Civil War 150.

Additionally, he has served as a commentator on a number of

...